Geranium plant named ‘Oglger5053’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Regal Geranium plant named ‘Oglger5053’, characterized by its compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; and large red purple, light red purple and dark purple-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium×domesticum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘OGLGER5053’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of RegalGeranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium×domesticum, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Oglger5053’.

The new Regal Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Lompoc, Calif. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new freely branching Regal Geranium plantswith large and attractive flowers.

The new Regal Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in January, 2003 in Lompoc, Calif. of a proprietaryselection of Pelargonium×domesticum identified as code number 7394, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofPelargonium×domesticum identified as code number 11088, not patented, asthe male, or pollen, parent. The new Regal Geranium plant was discoveredand selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Lompoc, Calif. in March, 2004.

Asexual reproduction of the new Regal Geranium plant by vegetativecuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Connellsville, Pa.since July, 2005, has shown that the unique features of this new RegalGeranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Regal Geranium have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotypemay vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such astemperature and light intensity without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Oglger5053’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Oglger5053’ as a new and distinct RegalGeranium plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant        habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Large red purple, light red purple and dark purple-colored        flowers.

Plants of the new Regal Geranium differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection in flower color as plants of the femaleselection have salmon-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Regal Geranium differ primarily from plants of themale parent selection in flower color as plants of the male selectionhave red and white bi-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Regal Geranium can be compared to plants ofPelargonium×domesticum ‘Elegance Rose Bicolor’, disclosed in U.S. PlantPat. No. 13,492. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Encinitas,Calif., plants of the new Regal Geranium differed primarily from plantsof ‘Elegance Rose Bicolor’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Regal Geranium had larger flowers than        plants of ‘Elegance Rose Bicolor’.    -   2. Plants of the new Regal Geranium and ‘Elegance Rose Bicolor’        differed in flower color as plants of ‘Elegance Rose Bicolor’        had red purple and white bi-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Regal Geranium plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Regal Geranium plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘Oglger5053’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘Oglger5053’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the winter and early spring in15-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas,Calif. and under cultural conditions which closely approximate RegalGeranium commercial production. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures averaged 18° C., night temperatures averaged 10° C. andlight levels averaged 4,000 foot-candles. Plants were 21 weeks old whenthe photographs and the description were taken. In the detaileddescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×domesticum ‘Oglger5053’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Pelargonium×domesticum identified as code number 7394, not            patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of            Pelargonium×domesticum identified as code number 11088, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at            soil temperatures of 23° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at soil            temperatures of 23° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three to            four weeks at soil temperatures of 23° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four to            five weeks at soil temperatures of 19.5° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   General appearance.—Compact, upright to outwardly spreading            and mounding plant habit.        -   Growth and branching habit.—Moderately vigorous growth            habit; freely branching habit; about 18 primary lateral            branches develop per plant.        -   Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 26 cm.        -   Plant height, to top of foliar plane.—About 19 cm.        -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 36 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 17 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.            Internode length: About 1.5 cm. Texture: Pubescent.            Strength: Strong. Color: Close to 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.        -   Length.—About 8.4 cm.        -   Width.—About 10 cm.        -   Shape.—Semi-circular; palmately lobed.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Bi-serrate.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate, reticulate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            144A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A;            venation, close to 137C. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 146A; venation, close to 147C.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 4.2 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Nearly round flowers arranged in            hemispherical and somewhat loose umbels arising from apical            leaf axils; umbels displayed above and beyond the foliar            plane on strong peduncles; umbels upright and flowers face            upright or outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about five open            flowers per umbel; about 28 umbels per plant at one time.        -   Flowering season.—In California, flowering is continuous            during the spring and early summer.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five days on            the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Umbel height.—About 6.5 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 8.5 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 6 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 3.8 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.            Shape: Elliptical. Color: Close to 75C.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower and arrangement: Typically five            in a single whorl; two upper petals, two lateral petals and            one lower petal. Length: Upper petals: About 3.8 cm. Lateral            petals: About 3.5 cm. Lower petal: About 3.5 cm. Width:            Upper petals: About 3.5 cm. Lateral petals: About 2.5 cm.            Lower petal: About 2.2 cm. Shape, all petals: Obovate. Apex,            all petals: Rounded. Base, all petals: Attenuate. Margin,            all petals: Entire, sinuate. Texture, all petals, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When            opening, all petals, upper surface: Close to 45C. When            opening, all petals, lower surface: Close to 56C. Fully            opened, upper petals, upper surface: Apical margins, close            to N57A; central margins, close to N57B; central fan-shaped            spot, close to N77A; basal margins, close to N57C; at the            base, close to NN155D; venation, close to 59B; color does            not fade with development. Fully opened, lateral and lower            petals, upper surface: Towards the apex, close to N57A;            center, close to N57B; towards the base, close to N57C; at            the base, close to NN155D; venation, close to 59A to 59B;            color does not fade with development. Fully opened, upper            petals, lower surface: Close to 56C; central spot, close to            59A to 59B; towards the base, close to NN155D; venation,            close to 59B to 59C. Fully opened, lateral and lower petals,            lower surface: Close to 56C; towards the base, close to            NN155D; venation, close to 59B to 59C.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five or six arranged in a            single whorl. Length: About 1.8 cm. Width: About 5 mm.            Shape: Narrowly elliptical. Apex: Acuminate; apices            reflexed. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 146B.        -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 4.5 cm. Diameter: About            2 mm. Angle: About 30° to 45° from stem axis. Strength:            Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 146B.        -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2.6 cm.            Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Angle: About 20° to 30° from            peduncle axis. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color:            Close to 146C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:            About six or seven. Anther length: About 3 mm. Anther shape:            Narrowly oblong. Anther color: Close to N79B. Pollen amount:            Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 181A. Gynoecium: Pistil            quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 2.1 cm.            Stigma shape: Six-parted, star-shaped. Stigma color: Close            to 59A. Style length: About 1.2 cm. Style color: Close to            64B. Ovary color: Close to 195A.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Regal Geranium have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Regal    Geraniums.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Regal Geranium have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 4° C. to about    35° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Regal Geranium plant named ‘Oglger5053’ as illustrated and described. 